Text of
Email from Peter Simmons to Ann Gould Re Disparity in Per-Student
Spending:
I
just sent you by e mail a copy of former Newark Provost/Chancellor (and
currently history professor) Steve Diner's op-ed piece from the Star
Ledger, April 11, 2013. It provides background to my request that the
senate executive committee issue a charge to the budget & finance
committee to investigate and report on the alleged significant
disparity in total per student spending between Newark, Camden and N.B.
[NB = $34,162; Newark = $18,275; Camden = 17,756]
This
allegation is based on a hand-out distributed at the Newark town
meeting conducted by President Barchi last Monday, April 8, 2013. The
reported source of the numbers is the "IPEDS data base," based on
information provided to the U.S. Department of Education by Rutgers.
At
the town meeting, President Barchi responded that he knew nothing about
these figures and that he would look into the matter and report his
findings to those assembled. Further, President Barchi wondered if
something like the difference in bus service expenses on the campuses
might explain these figures. However, the quoted figures list per
student instructional expenses as: NB = $15,092; Newark = $8,070;
Camden = $3,202. I doubt that transportation expenses are included as
instructional expenses.
Subsequently,
the Star Ledger (or perhaps the NY Times) quoted a university
spokesperson saying that Rutgers provided the "raw" data to the
Department of Education and did not allocate expenses to the categories
listed in the document cited.
I
can FAX the document that was distributed at the town meeting if you
send me your FAX number.
I
believe that I speak for many Newark faculty, students and staff in
requesting an independent examination of the allocation of funds, on a
per student basis, by campus. I will leave open any possible action
recommendations pending the result of the requested study. Let's start
with the facts.
Thanks
for your consideration.
Peter
Simmons